Would 16 ~ 18 gauge lamp cord (Zip cord) make a good "conductor" for an AM
band external long wire? Pull it "apart" and splice for maximum length? or
just use one "side"? or "short" it at the far end or at both ends? String it
at about roof height? Beyond, say, 100 feet, how important is length?

Thanks in advance.

Dave Pitzer

Make it as long as possible. Split the wire and solder it end to end. Depending
on your receiver, a simple LC tuner will help cut down on images across the
band due to receiver overload (unless you have a R75 or such). Roof height is
plenty high enough.

Good luck !

jw
k9rzz

On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 07:26:41 GMT, Dave Pitzer hath writ:
Would 16 ~ 18 gauge lamp cord (Zip cord) make a good "conductor" for an AM
band external long wire? Pull it "apart" and splice for maximum length? or
just use one "side"? or "short" it at the far end or at both ends? String it
at about roof height? Beyond, say, 100 feet, how important is length?

You may find that stuff to be too "stretchy". I.e., after you get up
up and taut, several days later you may find an unacceptable sag in it.
You'll pull it tight -- and again, it'll sag.
Eventually you'll have a _much_ longer antenna made out of 22 ga. :-)

At least, I think that'll be the situation with the length(s) you seek.

Lamp (zip) cord is manufactured for 'flexibilty' -- not tensile strength.

HTH
Jonesy
--
| Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux
| Gunnison, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | OS/2 __
| 7,703' -- 2,345m | config.com | DM68mn SK

Directivity is more important on the AM BCB band. Consider making
a tunable loop (one foot diameter or so..) that will allow you to peak
the direction for desired stations.

Pete


"Dave Pitzer" wrote in message
...
Would 16 ~ 18 gauge lamp cord (Zip cord) make a good "conductor" for an AM
band external long wire? Pull it "apart" and splice for maximum length? or
just use one "side"? or "short" it at the far end or at both ends? String
it
at about roof height? Beyond, say, 100 feet, how important is length?

Thanks in advance.

Dave Pitzer

Thin copper wire does not keep stretching for ever. In general it only
stretches once under a given tension.

Copper has the very useful property of work-hardening as it stretches. If
the tension is not increased further than its previous maximum tension it
remains at the same length.

If any part of a length has a tendency to stretch more than another, perhaps
because it is slightly thinner, then that part hardens first until the
remainder catches up.

Give the wire a good stretch, to make it dead sraight, before erecting an
antenna and it will remain at that length. Electrical properties will not be
significantly affected.

I have used the same thin 18 and 20 gauge, enamelled, magnet, antenna wire
for many years without any problems of this sort.
---
Reg, G4FGQ